Boxing Perspective: A Look Into The Future

Who will represent our generation 25 years from now?

One thing fans love to do is compare. The thing fans love to compare most is greats from the past to those of the present. Think about it. How many conversations have you been involved in or have heard involving a fighter from the past and one from more recent times?

Ali vs. Tyson, Ray Robinson vs. Ray Leonard, Felix Trinidad vs. Thomas Hearns? No matter what the combination, mythical matchups have been created. If we didn’t like to compare, there would be no such thing as the all time pound for pound list.

There is something to be said about the fighters themselves that happen to be mentioned in these fantasy bouts. They made an impression on the sport that will last forever. If a fighter from 25 years ago is still being mentioned and compared to the current crop, then he did something right, that much is for sure.

But something baffles me totally when these topics do arise. Why is it that, seven out of ten times, the fighter from the past seems to prevail? Could it be that fans are lovers of nostalgia? Do we have such a soft spot for our warriors of past that it is hard for the majority of us to admit they may not be as dominat if they were to have come along later in time?

Or is it that we genuinely feel the quality of fighters is diminishing as time progresses? It doesn’t matter which answer is the right one, the point remains the same; if a fighter’s name is mentioned as “The fighter to beat” 25 years after they’ve retired, that fighter did their job and did it well!

So for grins and giggles, I have decided to take five of the most beloved and successful fighters of the last 10 years and put my opinion on where they will rank in history, or at least in the eyes of fans and boxing experts when the conversations of all time greats and mythical matchups should arise two and a half decades from now.

I know there will be the critics out there who feel there are fighters on my list who should not be on it and others who should, but again, I used two categories; “Beloved” and “Successful”. This means that it is not only the wins and losses that put them there, but they also have to have been the standard in which fans compared others of this generation, in terms of greatness in skill, heart, popularity or otherwise.

So without further ado, here are my choices for the year 2032’s greats of the past for our era.

5.) Evander Holyfield: 41-8-2 (27). Bronze Medallist, former cruiserweight champion and former three time heavyweight champion of the world. Holyfield has been in some of the best heavyweight fights in history. Evander’s series with Riddick Bowe and the infamous Tyson bouts will always be a part any top heavyweight title fight list.

While Holyfield has proven himself time and again as a true warrior throughout, I think it will be his shortcomings and the fact that he has remained active for too long that will tarnish his reputation as a boxer, something that has befallen many past greats.

It will be his massive heart that keeps him endeared to followers of the sport for all time. Evander will not be in the top 25 pound for pound best come the year 2032, but he will be a top 10 heavyweight and the scale against which a heavyweight fighter’s heart is measured against.

4.) Roy Jones Jr: 50-4 (38). I can’t even begin to remember how long Jones was on top of the pound for pound list. At one point and time, there was Roy Jones and then there was everyone else.

To date, many boxing experts will tell you that at super middleweight, Jones was as close to unbeatable as one could get. He was so fast and so hard to hit, Roy’s speed exceeded that of many of the top 140 lb fighters of the same time. His dominance continued at light heavyweight from 1996-2002. His only blemish was a DQ loss to Montell Griffin.

Roy finally had to step up to heavyweight just for a new challenge. When he did, John Ruiz found out why Jones was the P4P king and dropped his WBA title to Roy via a one sided UD.

But Jones did not stay at heavyweight for long and the drop back down to light heavy finally took it’s toll on Roy. He squeaked by with a win over Antonio Tarver, then lost his next two bouts by KO; one in the Tarver rematch and then to Glen Johnson. The third match with Tarver went the distance, but Jones still came up short. He finally won his last bout via unanimous decision over lightly regarded NABO champion Prince Badi Ajamu.

Jones is scheduled to fight again on July 7 but with reservations by even his most loyal of supporters, fearing that Jones may be hanging on too long for past glory.

Win or lose, come July 7 Jones has made his spot in history. He was dominant for so long that his losses will be almost forgotten. When we have the mythical P4P of all time list come 2032 ,Jones will be in the top 10 with ease.

Super middleweights now and forever will be compared to Jones before they will to the long reigning Joe Calzaghe. The only thing we wait for now is to see if Roy Jones goes out in glory or on his back once again.

3.) Bernard Hopkins: 47-4-1 (32). Hopkins has often been criticized for not being what some call an exciting fighter, yet we can not deny his dominance. After entering the pro ranks almost straight out of prison and losing his pro debut, Hopkins went on a win streak of 22 in a row before meeting the man on this list before him, Roy Jones Jr and dropping a unanimous decision in his first bid for a title.

It would not be until five fights later that Hopkins would pick up the vacant IBF crown and hold it from 1994 to 2005, when he met the much younger heir apparent and current middleweight champion, Jermain Taylor.

During his time as champion, Hopkins defended his belt a record 20 times; the most of any middleweight champion in history. He also beat such men in the process as Robert Allen, Keith Holmes, Carl Daniels, William Joppy, Felix Trinidad, Howard Eastman and Oscar De La Hoya.

No matter who the opponent was, Hopkins prevailed. The odd thing about Hopkins’ tenure as champion is that he did not become recognized among the world’s elite until the latter part of his reign.

After dropping his belts to Taylor at the age of 40 by split decision, then losing the rematch, many expected B-Hop to fade out into the sunset. How wrong could they have been?

Instead of retiring or hanging around the 160 lb division with hopes of another shot at Taylor, Hopkins jumped up two divisions and claims the Ring Magazine Light Heavyweight title with a masterful performance over Antonio Tarver, ironically defeating the man who conquered Roy Jones twice. This is another example of how styles can make fights and age is just a number when it comes to some fighters.

Although Hopkins holds the record for middleweight title defenses and was champion for 11 years, many purists still put him underneath Carlos Monzon and Marvin Hagler in terms of dominant middleweight champions, something that has more to do with the era Hopkins reigned than anything.

I believe that as time goes on, Hopkins will be more appreciated when we and future fans look back at his performances. Complaints of his safety first and for some, boring style, will be re-evaluated. It will become more evident that Hopkins controlled his opponents to his liking rather than his unwillingness to engage in all out action, a style that has allowed him to be in the pound for pound mix at 42, an age reserved for a select few heavyweights, while as a rule most fighters are long retired by then.

Hopkins still amazes me as he does others. Bernard will be in the top 10 of all time before he is finished, removing a past great or two before him of their spot in history. This I bet the house on.

2.) Floyd Mayweather Jr: 38-0 (24). You either love him or hate him. There is no in-between when it comes to “Pretty Boy” Floyd. It is his self boasting that drives many fans away, causing him, despite his dominance in the ring, to be a mediocre draw at the gate. Others say he is only dominant because his opponents are second tier and talk was that once he beats another great of this era, he can then claim to be every bit as good as his record states.

Yet even after beating Oscar De La Hoya, the opinions of the sternest critics have changed little. This is a curse that many greats have suffered in many eras, but those who admire Floyd will swear that he is the greatest of all time.

It is one of those catch 22 situations. Either way you look at him, the point is made. He has never been beaten and everyone put in front of him was made to look ordinary. The closest thing to a loss Floyd has experienced is the first bout with Jose Luis Castillo and that was rectified in their rematch.

With titles won in every division that he has stopped at from super featherweight to junior middle, Mayweather has proven that he is the man to beat, hands down. He is the smaller version of the old Roy Jones. You have Floyd, then there is everyone else.

So if he is undefeated and has sat on the top of the heap for so long, what is it that keeps Floyd from being endeared by the fans? That one opponent. Every great of the past had that one guy who they had super fights with. Robinson had Jake LaMotta, Ali had Frazier and Leonard had Hearns. Floyd has not or has yet to have that rivalry.

Mayweather claims to be retired but this is yet to be seen if it remains true. He is only 30 years old and has so much more to do. If he does remain in retirement, fans will begin to call for him as the next young superstar rises, a habit throughout time.

Either way, Floyd Mayweather Jr came, saw and prevailed. No matter what anyone say,s he dominated the rankings for a decade without a single blemish, a feat that few can claim. Put him in the record books as the most gifted fighter of our generation from 130 to147 lbs. Hands down. For now and all eternity.

1.) Oscar De La Hoya: 38-5 (30). From the day he won gold in the Olympics, it was clear that Oscar was going to be a major factor in this sport. His nickname “The Golden Boy” could not be more fitting. Everything he touches turns to exactly to that; gold. Not only is he the only fighter to ever win titles in six different weight classes, but he is the most profitable fighter to ever step in the ring. His earnings exceed that of the national debt.

Now as a promoter, Oscar continues to rise as boxing’s guru of success. At the pace they are going, Golden Boy Promotions may have signed every fighter in the sport before all is said and done.

De La Hoya’s movie star good looks and gentlemanly demeanor make him popular with those who are not full time fans of the sport. His willingness to fight only the best, win or lose, makes him a favorite with die hard fans as well. The resume of Oscar may be one of the best ever. Julio Cesar Chavez, Pernell Whitaker, Rafael Ruelas, Hector Camacho Sr, Ike Quartey, Arturo Gatti, Shane Mosley, Felix Trinidad, Bernard Hopkins and Floyd Mayweather all grace his record. It is the who’s who of the last 15 years.

There is just one thing about Oscar’s career that many tend to overlook; even though he is the most willing fighter out there to fight anyone at any time, Oscar has never won a fight against a prime elite opponent. Mosley (twice), Trinidad, Mayweather and Hopkins have all beaten him. Will this take away from his legacy? Should this take away from his legacy?

I guess it depends on how you look at it. He has lost to every fighter who sits as king of the mountain, yet De La Hoya was never actually dominated to the point of asking why is he there in the first place except to a bigger and stronger Bernard Hopkins, the only man to ever stop Oscar.

I think that the losses to the pound for pound elite will be overlooked by everyone but purists in 25 years Oscar’s contributions and drawing power are going to overshadow any shortcomings that he has had. If his promotion company keeps succseeding at it’s current pace, De La Hoya will be the Don King and Bob Arum of our future, without the critique that both older men face on a regular basis.

There are men in this era who are more worthy of consideration than Oscar, skill-wise, and some of their names are on his resume. His six division title reigns, along with his notoriety, are sure to put those concerns aside when it comes to who will be considered 25 years from now.

Oscar will indeed be the premier fighter mentioned first and foremost when future fans or so called experts reflect on this era. His name will be mentioned along side every pound for pound great that we today bring up in our day to day comparisons. Even with his shortcomings, it will be well deserved.

That is my list of the future. Again, I am sure it will vary from that of many out there, but if I were a betting man, those are the five who will be first when the time comes to relive past greats of our time.

There are others worthy of being on the list; I debated whether or not such men as Lennox Lewis, James Toney and Winky Wright belonged, except popularity among the masses steered me away.

All in all, I think these five men will represent us proud.